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The Knights director of security, appointed to a support role for the Canadian men’s and women’s Olympic hockey teams in Pyeongchang, will literally circle the Earth during his trip.

His first flight went from London to Toronto, then to Riga, Latvia, to meet up for a pre-Winter Games camp. From there, he will head to Seoul, South Korea, for Olympic preparations.

On the way home, the flight from Seoul to Toronto heads west to east.

“I won’t know what time zone I’m in by the time I’m there because I’ll have been through all of them,” said Martin, a retired OPP officer. “I’ll miss the Knights while I’m gone. I always do. I’m so proud of the way they’re playing. The younger guys, they’ve been able to prove their worth with the added responsibility.”

Martin already knows a handful of the pros who will represent Canada at the Games, including ex-Knights Chris Kelly and Christian Thomas.

“That just adds to the comfort level,” he said.

And as a frequent team host for the world junior team, plus a stint with the Corey Perry-led golden team at the world championships two years ago, much of his role is to put the players and their families at ease and to feel safe while in a new environment.

“I’m going to do no different with them than I do with the Knights,” he said. “The pros know their routine and what they need to do to succeed each day. They’re going to wear that (Canadian) sweater and I’ll be in there encouraging, motivating and helping them any way I can.

“Everyone brings a piece of the puzzle.”

The Russians, on paper, will be Olympic gold-medal favourites. But the Canadians, as always, will cause a stir if they get into the medal round.

On the women’s side, Canada and the United States will likely play for gold again.

Martin will be there for all of it — and be following the Knights from the other side of the world in his spare moments.

Quick hits

The Knights won in their first two trips to Owen Sound. Their final visit of the season is on Valentine’s Day . . . London native Nick Suzuki entered Friday’s game with five goals and eight points in his previous three outings. He has emerged from a personal skid that saw him record just one goal in 13 games . . . The Knights are 2-1 against Guelph, their next opponent, with three games left . . . After teaming up to beat the Dallas Stars, Maple Leaf Nazem Kadri gave him hometown -- and ex-Knight Mitch Marner a big shoutout. "Obviously, if he's got London roots, he's a fantastic human being and it's nice to play with him," Kadri told Sportsnet.